Summary

Creating and applying email signatures allows you to automatically include your name, title, contact details, and legal disclaimers in every email you send. This guide covers creating signatures in Outlook for Desktop and Outlook on the Web.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Method A: Outlook Desktop (Classic Outlook App)

#### 1. Create a New Signature

• Open Outlook.
• Go to File > Options.
• Select Mail from the left-hand menu.
• Click the Signatures... button (under the "Compose messages" section).
• In the Signatures and Stationery dialog, click New.
• Name your signature (e.g., "Work Signature," "Support Team").
• Use the Edit signature box at the bottom to create your signature.

- You can format text (Bold, Italic, Underline).

- Insert images (business logo, profile picture).

- Insert hyperlinks (website, LinkedIn).

- Add vCard (Electronic Business Card) if needed.

- *Tip: Keep it concise. Name, Title, Company, Phone, Website, Email.*

• Click Save.

#### 2. Apply Signatures to Emails

In the same Signatures and Stationery window:

• New Messages: Use the dropdown menu to select the signature you want to use for all *new* emails you compose.
• Replies/Forwards: Use the dropdown menu to select the signature for *replies and forwarded* messages.

- *Note: You can choose "(none)" for replies if you want to save space.* #### 3. Manually Insert a Signature in an Email

If you have multiple signatures or need to switch them:

• Compose a new email.
• Go to the Message or Insert tab in the ribbon.
• Click Signature.
• Select the desired signature from the list.
• If the signature doesn't automatically appear, you can clear the existing one and re-select or take the previous steps to set it as default.

Method B: Outlook on the Web (OWA) / Outlook.com

Useful if you don't have access to the desktop app or want to sync signatures across devices.

• Open a web browser and go to [www.outlook.com](https://www.outlook.com) and sign in.
• Click the Settings (gear icon) in the top right corner.
• Click View all Outlook settings at the bottom of the pane.
• Go to Compose and reply.
• Email signature: Create and format your signature in the text box.

- Check "Automatically include my signature on new messages I compose".

- Check "Automatically include my signature on messages I forward or reply to".

• Click Save.

#### Managing Signatures for Multiple Accounts in Outlook Desktop

If you have multiple email accounts added to Outlook:

• Start creating a signature via File > Options > Mail > Signatures....
• In the "Select signature to edit" section of the dialog, you will see an "E-mail account" dropdown.
• Select the specific account (or "New Messages" / "Replies/forwards" which acts as the global default).
• Create and Save the signature for that specific account or section.
• You must associate the signature with specific account compose settings separately:

- Go to File > Options > Mail > Signatures....

- Under "Choose default signatures," you can set defaults per account for new messages and replies/forwards.

Best Practices

• Mobile Compatibility: Keep your signature simple (Text only or minimal HTML). Complex signatures (especially heavy images) often display poorly on mobile devices.
• Legal Disclaimers: If using legal text, consult your company's legal team regarding wording.
• Image Size: If you include a logo, compress it so it doesn't trigger spam filters or look blurry.
• Social Media: Linking to professional profiles (LinkedIn) is fine. Avoid linking to personal social media unless policy allows.

Troubleshooting

• Signature not saving: Ensure you click "OK" and "Apply" in the Options menu, not just the "Save" button in the Signature editor. Sometimes permissions issues on corporate networks prevent saving. IT may need to push signatures via policy.
• Wrong signature appearing: Check your default settings in the Signatures dialog. Also, verify which email account is sending the message (select the correct "From" account in a new email).
• Images broken: If hosting images locally (via your PC), they won't show for recipients. Images must be hosted online (web server) or inserted directly as inline base64 images if supported by your client.

When to Seek Further Assistance

If IT policies dictate signatures (to ensure branding consistency and legal compliance), or if you cannot access the signature menu due to restrictions, contact your IT support so they can assist or generate the signature for you.